Button-sewing machine



Jun;- 28, 1927.

C. T. A. SIBBALD ET AL BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed April 27. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet I Hue 11km; QM/25' zAazabazd.

- 1,633 613 June 1927' c. "r. A. SIBBALD ETAL BUTTON sawme momma Filed April 27. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 a {Mica-1'11 .SzZba/d, him 8.12 anyone,

' 1,633,613 June 1927' c. "r. A. SIBBALD ET AL BUTTON SEWING MACHINE,

Filed April 27, 1922 4 sheets sheet 4 gmentow g'izar'is 114-4523561106, (107m 5.1?42260773.

Patented June 28 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES T. A. SIIBBALID ANDJ'OHN B. RANSOM, OF TROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T FREDERICK OSANN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BUTTON-SEWING MACHINE.

Application med April 27, 1922. Serial no. 557,011.

stitches in the form of loops of thread are,

passed through the respective button holes successively, the button holder or clamp being operated to register the holes in the button alternately with the needle for successive stitches. For the purpose of the present invention, the material to which the button is v to be attached is movable with the button for the successive needle movements, and is also adapted for a periodic movement independent of the button in a direction transverse to the line joining the holes in the button.

' Thus the button and material move together until the needle has made, say, one-half the number of stitches required to attach the button, whereupon the material is given a movement independent of the button and so laterally of the movement of the button and material so as to arrange a portion of the material, difierent from that through-which the previous stitches have passed, in line with the holes in the button. The button 85 and material then move together to present each of the pair of holes in the button alternately to the needle, whereu on the remainder of the needle stitches or oops are passed through the material at points spaced from 40 those points in the material through which the first half of the stitches passed. As a resultof this, the button with two holes therein, is secured to the material by stitchin loops at four spaced points, thus provi ing the strengthened anchorage; A

From the above general statement, it will beapparent that thebutton and material move together to successively present the holes in the button in the needle path, and that after a redetermined period, say, onehalfthe stitciiing operation, the cloth is given an independent movement, which alines-a difierent portion thereof with the button The invention is designed for an additional and important result to overcome an objection heretofore incident to button sewing machines. The initial thread carried throug the button and material is generally brought back by the needle upwardly through the f button, and in the final attachment of the buttonremains as a projecting end which must be removed by hand. This objection is entirely overcome by the present invention as, following the initial or first needle movement through the button and material, the material is given a relative movement with respect to the button, which thus brings the opening in the material through which this initial thread passed out of alinement with the hole in the button. This in eflect binds the thread between the material and the plate of the machine, and thus prevents the needle from drawing it back through the material and button in its subsequent stitching movement. 7

The invention also includes the provision of a button holder or clamp and a material holder or clamp, together with cams or similar controls, through which the clamps move in unison for a definite period to cause aseries of stitches to be passed through the holes in the button in succession and through the material, whereupon the control for the material clamp imparts to the latter movement independent of the button clamp to arrange a different portion of the material beneath the holes in the button, whereupon the controls again operate to move both clamps in unison so that the succeeding stitches pass through the button holes in succession but through oints in the material spaced from thosep01nts-through which the first series of stitches passed. Obviously, these controls can be readily adapted for such change or adjustment that the combined or unison movements of the clamps can be either longitudinall or transversely of the sewing machine, t us applying the button with lines of stitches extending either lengthwise or crosswise the garment on its back face and on the forward face of the button, the inde pendent movement of the material being at right angles to the lines of button securing stitches in whichever direction they may be applied.

Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the. accompanying drawlngs in which Figure 1 is a View in side elevation illustrating a mechanism arranged for stitching two hole buttons with the line of the holes arranged transversely of the 'nachine.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same.

Figure 3 is a plan of the same.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the material clamp used in connection with the construction shown in Figure Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a mechanism arranged for use with two hole buttons when the holes in the buttons are to be arranged lengthwise of the machine. f I

Figure 6 is a perspective, with the parts separated, of the material clamp used in connection with the construction shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Figures 7 to 16; inclusiveg are diagrammatic illustrations of the successive steps in securing a two hole button in position, proportions being distorted for clarity of showing.

Figure 17 illustrates also somewhat diagrammatically the engagement of successively' ositioned sewing loops on the back face of the material before the stitching operation has been completed.

lVhile a two thread machine might be employed, a single thread machine is illustrated generally at 1. It has the usual needle bar carrying the needle 2, and a looper 3, and as adapted for the purposes 'of the present invention has a material clamp and also a button holder, both to be more particularly hereinafter described.

At 4 is shown a bearing plate pivota'lly and slidably connected to the machine bed by a headed screw 5 passing through a longitudinal slot 6 in the plate and taking into the machine bed. The material clamp is secured to the forward end of the bearing plate, and is preferably constructed in either of two forms for the reason that in sewing buttons where the holes in the buttons are to be arranged transversely of the machine, the material clamp must haveits independent movement longitudinally of the machine, while where the holes in the buttons areto be arranged longitudinally of the machine, the material clamp must have its independent movement transversely of the machine, although a single material clamp capable of both movements is within the scope of this invention.

A material clamp having its independent movement longitudinally of the machine is shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 6, and comprises a plate 7 removably secured by screws 8, or the like, directly to the forward end of the bearing plate 4. A lower clamp plate 9 is directly and slidably secured on the plate 7 by screws 1.0 passing through slots 11 in clamp plate 9 and taking into plate 7 The forward'end of the lower clamp plate 9 is formed with an enlarged opening 12 (Figure 2) for the passage of the needle, and its upper surface is preferably roughened about such opening. An upper clamp plate 13 is rigidly secured to the lower clamp plate by screws 14, the forward end of the upper clamp plate being formed with spaced clamping arms 15. The forward ends of the clamping plates 9 and 13 are so relatively arranged as to cause the forward. ends of the arms 15 to press with inherent spring I pressure toward the lower clamp plate so as to clamp the work therebetween. A bar 16 is secured to the clamp plate asby the screws 14 and projects laterally, as shown in Figures 2 and 6. To' the outer end of this bar is fixed the mechanism for giving independent longitudinal motion to the work and the button as will later appear.

The plate 4 is formed with upstanding ears 39, between which is pivoted on a transverse pivot pin 41 lugs40 depending from the main bar 42 of a button clamp. The forward end of this button clamp is provided with a head 43 adjustably connected thereto through bolt and slot connections 44, 45, this head having the usual side button engaging jaws 46 and movable rear jaw 47, as is common in this type of machine, A spring 48 is interposed between the rear end of the main bar 42 of the button clamp and the plate 4 of the material clamp, this spring tending to normally hold,

.the buttonclamp pressed down toward the material clamp. The button clamp may be raised at the will of the operator as bynthe usual treadle and chain connection, indicated generally at 49, and also usual in this typge of machine. v

y reason of the connect-ion of the material clamp members 9 and 13 to the plate 4 as hereinbefore described, it is evident that this clamp and the material carried thereby may be moved forwardly and rearwardly longitudinally of the machine independently of the button clamp by which movement difi'erent portionsv of the work may be brought into alinement with the holes in the button. This movement is effected through rality of perforations 33 in any of which the .together so as to provide. for further atjustment The button clamp must be held against longitudinal movement when the holes in the button are arranged transverse ly but must be given a lateral movement together with the material clamp to present the two holes of the button inalternation in the needle path. For the purpose of holding machine bed plate. This sleeve 24 has swinging motion.

fixed'thereto an ,arm 25 having -a slot 26 therein. Riding, in this slot 26 is a pivot bolt 27 slidably adjustable lengthwise of a rock arm 28 also fixed to the shaft 29. By fixing the pivot bolt 27 in axial alinement with the shaft 29, as by means of a thumb nut 30, rocking-of this shaft will be ineffective to rock the arm 25 and the pivot point between the arm23 and the plate 4 will be held stationary. This'pivotal connection between the arm 23 and the plate 4 provides a fulcrum about which theplate 4 carrying both the material and button clamps may. be swung laterally, the slot 6 being sufiiciently wider than the shank of the screw 5 to permit the needed range of For the purpose of producing this swinging mot-ion a shaft 51 is rotatably supported in the bed plate of the machine at one side of the clamps, and is actuated by a cam at 510 arranged below the bed plate. The upper end of the shaft 51 is provided with an arcuate head 52 formed with an undercut nally of the slot 53 and thus provides any desired degree of lateral or transverse movement to the combined material and button clamps by the oscillation of the head 52. The cams at 290 and 510 are driven as by worms and worm gears from the main shaft which through meshing gears 71 and' 72 actuates the looper 3 and through eccentric and lever connections 73,74 and 75 actuates the needle bar 76 which carries the needle 2.

When it is desired that the line of holes in the button shall extend toward the edge of the material rather than parallel thereto, the button, ,must be placed in the machine with a line of holes extending longitudinally of the machine and when this is done a dif-- ferent construction of material clamp and certain different connections and adjustments of the machine are employed. A material clamp for use when this button position .is desired is shown detachedin F igure 4 and connected for operation in Figure'5. It includes a plate 17 secured to the bearing plate 4 similar to and in place of the plate 7 shown in Figure 6, and. also includ'es the lower and 11 per clamp plates L 18 and 19, The lower 0 amp plate 18, instead of being rigidly secured to the plate '17, as in the other form of clamp, is pivotally connected thereto, as by a stud 20 rising from plate 17 and seated in an opening in the lower clamp plate18. An operating arm 21 is pivotally' secured to the lower clamp plate 18 as at 22. With this arrangement of buttons it is necessary to move the button and material clamps simultaneously longitudinally of the machine to present the holes in the button successively in the needle path. This is accomplished by adjusting the pivot 27 in the slot 26 to a point away from axial alinement with the shaft 29, as shown in Figure 5, so that the rocking motion of the arm 28 is transmitted to the arm 25 and thus to the arm 23, it being understood that a'cam properly cut to effect rocking of the shaft 29 in proper timed relation will be substituted at 290 for the one used with the form of material clamp shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 6-and heretofore described. A spring 50 is shown as interposed between the rear end of the plate 4 and the machine frame, this acting to press the two clamps forwardly so that an edge cam may be used at 290 to give positive back motions to the clamps in proper timed relation with the sewing mechanism, the spring 50 holding the cam follower against the cam and producing the forward motion -of the plate 4 and the clampscarried thereby. The extent of motion of the plate 4 -may, of course, be adjusted by adjusting the position of the pivot 27 in the slot 26. With this arrangement of the machine, the bar 35 is removed entirely, as shown in Figure 5, the arm 32 rocking idly as the shaft 29 rocks. The lateral motion of the material clamp. independently of the button clamp to change the portions of the material presented in line with the sewing holes in the button is produced by the rocking of the head 52, a cam suitably cut to produce the proper movements being used at 510 in place of that used in the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3 in which it gives the combined lateral motion to the two clamps. As shown in Figure 5 this arcuate head is positioned substantially 180 from its showing in Figures 2 and 3, this'being done as a matter of convenience in making connections but is not will hold it against lateral movement essential provided the cams are cut for the position used.

The arm is adjusted to bring its outer end in alinement with the shaft 51 so that the rocking of the head 52 will have no effect to move the plate 4laterally, but instead while permitting longitudinal movement thereof through the motion of the arm 23. The arm 21 of the material clamp, however, is engaged with the head 52 at one side of this shaft 51 so that rocking of the head will act to swing the material clamp about its ivot 20 with the plate 17, thus to impart ateral movement to its forward end which grasps the material. Connection of the arm 21 to the head may be effected by a bolt 58, the head of which rides in the undercut groove 53'of the head and which is provided at its upper end with a thumb nut by which its position in the groove may be fixed when adjusted to give the desired extent of motion to the material clamp. The arm 21 is shown also as made with a pair of overlapping portions relatively adjustable so that the effective length of this arm may be adjusted.

The operation will first be-described in connection with applying a two hole button to the material with the holes in the button arranged longitudinally of the machines. Under these conditions the material clamp shown in Figures 4 and 5 will be used.

- The bolt 27 will be offset from the shaft 29,

so as to give the combined clamps a reciprocating longitudinal movement equal to the space between the holes 59 and 60 in the button 61 of Figure 7. The operating arm 21 of the material clamp will be connected to the oscillating head 52 sufficiently out of line with the shaft 51 to impart the necessary extent of oscillation to the pivoted section of the material clamp to give the desired spacing of the two groups of stitches extending through each hole in the button.

7 In the initial stitch, the needle 2 enters the hole 59 in the button and passes down through the material 62 and through a hole 63 in the needle plate 64. Following the looper movement, the needle returns to above the plane of the button and immediately followmg this operation the movable section of the material clamp is, through the cam con nected to the shaft 51, given a movement laterally, independently of the button clamp, to arrange the hole in the material through which the initial stitch passed out of line with the hole 59 in the button, as shown in Figures 8 to 10. The end of the thread is thus offset from the alined holes 59 in the button and 63 in the plate 64 (Figure 10), causing the material to exert a binding action upon the thread and preventing the end of the thread (m, Figure 17) being drawn up through the hole in the button in a subsequent stitch. Both clamps, through the action of the lever 25, governed by the cam controlling the rocking of the shaft 29, are then reoiprocated so that the needle successively stitches through the two holes in the button and through the material therebeneath, the movable section of the material clamp remaining in the position resulting from the above described single movement of the head 52.

In each stitchingaction after the end of the thread has been caught and held the de scent of the needle in its work piercing stroke takes with it a loop of thread through a hole in the button and through the material, this loop being caught by the looper and retained during the succeeding wlthdrawal movement of the needle in a directlon opposite to its iercing stroke. In the single thread mac ine illustrated, successively formed and positioned loops are 5 caused to engage with each other on the under face of the material in the usual manner to form the usual chain stitch as shown m Figure 17 at n, p and g. Of course if a two thread machine were used, each loop of thread passed through the button and the material would be engaged. by the second thread on the under side of the material in the well known manner.

Following a predetermined number of stitches through the holes in the button, the material clamp is swung back to its first position'through the oscillation of head 52,

the material moving laterally independently of the button so that those portions of the material presented in alinement with the holes in the button when the initial stitch was passed are again alined with the holes in the button, and the holes in the material through which the previous stitches passed l after the initial stitch are out of line with the holes in the button, as shown in Figures 14 to 17. For the sake of clarity in Figures 14 to 16 the two sides of a single loop only of the thread are shown, except in Figure l 16 where four thread lines representing two loops are shown at one point, though it should be evident that in general several loops will be placed at each point. The comblned clamps are then continued in their rei ciprocatory movement to cause the remaining stitches (1', s, t, it, etc., Figure 17) to be passed through the two holes' of the button in succession, but these stitches now pass throu h the material at points spaced from those 1n the material through which the previous stitches passed. When the number of stitches desired have been completed, it will beapparent that all of the stitches pass through any desired proportion of these stitches pass through the material at definite points, while the remaining number of stitches pass through the material at points spaced from those points. Thus the two hole button is 130 the holes in the button, and that 12 through the same hole in the button engaging the material at a different point.

In the use of the machine for applying twohole buttons to the material where the holes in the button are set transversely of the machine, the material clamp shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 6 is connected to the plate 4 in place of the clamp of Figures 4 and 5,

the bolt 27 is alined with the shaft 29 to prevent movement of the lever 25, the arm 16 is connected to the arm 35 and the arm 35 to the arm 32, and'the pivot 54 is olfset from the shaft 51. It will be apparent that when thus connected, the stitching operation previously described is carried out in substantially the same manner except that in this instance both clamps are moved transversely together to successivel present the holes in the button to the nee le, by rocking of the head 52, and at a predetermined t1.me, the

material clamp is given a movement longi-- tudinally of-the machine independently of the button clam .by a rocking motion of shaft 29 acting't rough the arm 35, to move the material with respect to the holes in the button to provide the four'point anchorage of the threads in the material as indicated in Figures 16 and 17.

The method of sewing the buttons as carried out according to this invention and the attachment of the button as a result of this method are not herein claimed .as they form the subject matter of a divisional application -Serial Number 721,650 filed June 23, 1924, for Method of sewing on buttons.

Having thus described icertain embodiments of this'invention, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from its spirit or sco e as defined by the appended clalms.

' e claim: a

1. In'a button sewing'ma'chine, a button holder, a material clamp, and means for creating relative movement between the button holder and material clamp following a predetermined number of stitches through the holes in a button and through material, said relative movement positioning the material to receive the stitches through the same button holes at a distance from the original stitches inthe material through said button holes. 1

2. In"a button sewing machine, a'button holder, a material clamp, means for-moving said button holder-and material clamp in unison to permit a plurality of stitches to be made through holesin a button and material,

said stitches passing through the button holes in succession, and means for creating a relative movement between the button holder and material clamp following a predetermined number of such stitches to position an unstitched portion of the material in line with said button holes to receive subsequent stitches through said button holes.

3. In a button sewing machine, a button holder, a material clamp, means for moving said holder and clamp in unison to permit stitches to be made alternately through spaced holes in the button and material, and

means for creating a relative movement between the button and material during a stitching interval and at an angle to the direction of unison movement to arrange the stitching points in the material of the previous stltches out of line with the holes in the button.

4'. In a button sewing machine having a needle, a holder for a two hole button, a material clamp, means for moving the holder and clamp to position holes in the button beneath the needle alternately to cause stitches to pass through the holes in the button and material, and means wherebythe material clamp is shifted with respect to the holder during the stitching operation after a plurality of stitches havebeen made with said holder and material clamp in the same relative positions, to dispose the previous points of stitch anchorage in the material out of, line with the holes in the button.

5. In a button sewing machine having a needle, a button holder, a material clamp,

means for moving the holder and clamp in unison to position each of a pair of holes ofthe button beneath the needle alternately to cause stitches to pass through the holes in the button and material, and 'means whereby the material clampalone is shifted transversely with respect/to the direction of said unison movement during the stitching operation. c

6. In a button sewing machine having a needle, a button holder, a material clamp,

means for moving the holder and clamp in unison to cause the needle to pass alternately through each of a pair of holes in the button and through the material, and 'means for independently moving the material clam alone in a direction at right angles to the irection of unison movement to thereby position the-material in a new relation to the button and without interfering with the subsequent unison movement,

7 In a button sewing machine having stitching nuachanism', a holder for a two hole button, a material. clamp, means for impart- 1 ing combined movement .to theholder and clamp withu'elation to saidstitchin mechanism, and means operative indepen entlyof said first mentioned means for moving the material clamp'alone at right angles to the ing from such independent movement dur-.

ing succeeding combined movements.

8. In a machine of the class described, means for holding material, a button clamp, sewing instrumentalities including a needle, and means for so relatively moving said button clamp and holding means during the sewing operation as to sew through two holes only in the button and four holes in the material.

9. 'In a machine of the class described, button-holding means, material-holding means,

instrumentalities constructed and arranged to attach a button supported'by said buttonholding means by fastenings extending through the holes in the button and into material held by said material-holding means, and means for so relatively manipulating said button. and material-holding means that a plurality of fastenings extending through each hole in the button engage the material at spaced points.-

10. In a machine of the class described comprising means for carrying a perforated member, means for holding material, and means for attaching a perforated member carried by said carrying means to material on said material holder and mechanism for so relatively manipulating said means during the attaching operation that a plurality of 'fastenin extending through a per foration in sai member engage the material at each of'spaced oints.

11. In a machme of the class described, a

. button carrier, a material holder, sewing instrumentalities for attaching a button carried by said carrier to mate'nalheld by said holderby stitches a plurality of which pass through each thread hole of the button, and means for 'so relatively moving the button and material after a plurality of stitch:

forming operations its to cause stitches passing through the same hole in the button to be spaced apart in the material. a

12. In a machine of the class described, a

button carrier, a material holder, instrumentalities forfastenin a button carried by said carrier to material eld by said holder, and means for so relating said carrier, holder and instrumentalities as to cause said instrumentalities to lace fastenings extending through two holes in the button through four holes in the material.

13. In a machine-of the class described, members comprising a button carrier and a material holder, stitchin mechanism for attaching a button on sai carrier to'material on said holder, and means for so relatingsaid members and mechanism during the stitching operation as to hold the starting end of the stitching thread and thereafter to engage the material by stitches passing through each of the holes of the button to spaced points in the material.

14. In a'machine of the class described a material holder, a button clamp, sewing mechanism, and means for relatively moving said holder, clamp and mechanism to sew through two holes in a button into -the material at points spaced in a direction laterally of a line joining the said two holes in the button.

15. Ina machinelof the class described, sewing mechanism, means for holding work and means for holding a button in operative relation to said mechanism forv efiecting the sewing of the button to the work, and means actin after a lurality of attaching stitches havifiieen m e for moving the work relative to the button and mechanism to cause succeeding stitches engaging the same portion of the button to engage a different portion of the work. I

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

' CHARLES T. A. SIBBALD.

JOHN B. RANSOM. 

